Either Or

extremely beautiful and touching, his song lyrics and subjects impress me the most

Some albums just have an indescribable magic. Elliot smith doesn’t have a technically great voice, and the production is low fi but this is easily a 5/5 album. It should be studied by aspiring producers and bands. If the songs are good enough just keep it simple!

Love love love

It was incredible. What a beautiful and vulnerable soul.

Beautiful

This is something special

elliott smith and i, i think, are cut from pretty similar cloth. a lot of his musical influences are things that i adore and so his music tends to be pretty compatible with me. i find that he was a great lyricist with a knack for a catchy melody, and overall sort of dour, sad boy type vibe. a bit lo-fi, which i always appreciate. an album that effortlessly balances the line between quiet and intimate & loud and intense. i think this is the sort of music that you have to have been a bit depressed to listen to and appreciate, and if you found elliott during those times, you have an affinity for his stuff. that goes for me as well. i've listened to some of his other stuff but never this album in full. i've been meaning to for a long time, but never got around to it and i am so glad i finally did. as i suspected, i really liked it. a great album to curl up and mope around to (and i mean that in the most positive sense) favorite tracks: ballad of big nothing between the bars say yes

Very sweet and gentle.

This will either be my favorite album by list’s completion or my second favorite album. Either, or, it’s a good one.

Might be my favorite album of his. Such a great ear for melody.

Reading the notes, Elliott recorded all parts himself. This is precisely the type of album I wish I could've written myself. Top marks well deserved.

The first album that got me into Elliot. This album is the perfect middle ground for his dark folk like sound to his Beatleseque pop that verged on noise rock nearer the end. Songs like Alameda and Big ballad of big nothing are grim pieces of folk rock while songs like Angeles and Between the bars are maybe the two best singer songwriter songs I’ve ever heard. Elliott is a genius especially on the guitar.

overall rating: 9/10 favourite song: ballad of big nothing ( 9/10 ) runner up favourite: pictures of me ( 9/10 ) least favourite: between the bars ( 6/10 ) album cover: 7/10 vocals: 9/10 instrumentals: 9.5/10 would i recommend ? : a hundred percent , just mentioned elliot smith to a few of my friends other: indie is my thing so i know ill love this. 2 song in and i’m already in love. everything about this album sounds perfect ☆

Amazing, sublime album. I really love the acoustic guitar on this album, and his voice is really nice. Some of my favorites are ‘Speed Trials’, ‘Ballad Of Big Nothing’, and ‘Say Yes’, which I somehow recognized on the first listen (on the Rolling Stone 500, which appears to be a far inferior list, though unlike this it has the Neutral Milk Hotel album, so that’s a plus) despite having no real knowledge of Smith’s catalogue. Great album. Side note: for some reason he has one more album on the list and it’s Figure 8, even though I feel like most people would pick his self-titled or XO over that.

Wanna cry to the OG sad boi with me? An extremely influential artist for many of my favourite singer songwriters, it’s all melancholy with lyrics and unique guitar work to back it up. Angeles is the best track, one of the most beautiful and heart wrenching songs ever written.

Very sad, very good. His vocals annoy me on some tracks but apart from that great

I never heard any of his albums. I really like his writing. I dig his voice too. I’ll have to give this a few more listens and check out his other stuff too.

Love this record and haven’t listened in a long time. The songwriting is really beautiful and he’s got such a unique sound with the double tracked vocals and thin whispery voice.

I’ve always thought that Elliot Smith is OG emo. Not just cause his shit is sad but the way he writes songs. Between the Bars is brilliant and I love that the album ends with Say Yes. Love this screwed up man.

Influential album, to be sure. Between the Bars and Say Yes are absolute hits. Alameda is pretty good too! No Name No. 5 is hitting pretty good too. Angeles is real nice, the fingerpicking intro with that whistle sound in the background. Great ambiance. I was not initially as impressed as I thought I'd be given the quality of the songs I already knew, but it's a slow burn. 4.5/5

ite soittana kaikki instrumentaaliet.. heh ei lisäpisteitä… Biisirakenteet ja melodiat mukailevat hieman 1960-luvun popsankareiden perintöä… Hankala tapa sanoa että kuullostaa radiohedilt….ä…

Soft, melancholy rock. Chill listen, pretty good

nice

A seminal album for me, completely inseperable from my formative years and still incredibly significant to this day, so it's impossible to be objective. That said, there is a timeless, devastating beauty to Smiths songwriting that strikes me anew every time. The multi-track vocals feel at times so fragile that they might fade away entirely (No Name No.5); at other points they display a pained defiance, pushing futilely against devestation (the last verse of 2:45). Smith preserves the raw emotion through intimate unadorned production, the soft fuzz of room tone providing the atmospheric sensation that he plays directly to you. It's an affectation that can frustrate me when used by some artists, but Smith's deceptively sparse arrangements display an exacting control over that atmosphere, rather than bloke-in-a-bar simplicity. And above it all, Smith's lyrics are direct and poetic in equal measure, preserving the complete picture of event and affect. Coy illusions and abstractions will butt up against heartbreaking direct address, often from Smith to himself, speaking to deep shame, fear, pain, and brief glimpses of hope. While there's Smith songs I like more on other records, this is his most complete and coherent collection. It's a recognition of much that is too hard to be said directly, delivered by a confidant late at night in a dimly lit bedroom, when sleep won't come and thoughts spiral. Specific and universal. Fave track: 2:45 A.M.

Always a 5.

Oh yeah. I know this one already. He was already dead before I discovered him, so I didn't get the "loss" part of this firsthand, but listening to this makes me feel for him, a little sad for what he must have wrestled with. The production is so intimate and unique. Multitracking vocals, the mic is practically in his mouth. The snare drum feels like a millimeter from your eardrum, the guitar's next to you on the couch, but the cymbals are out in the backyard. You can hear how he's influenced Beck, PortugalThaMan, of course Ásgeir Trausti, even Olivia Rodrigo. If you dig this guy but hadn't heard of him before... keep listening to XO and self-titled. And don't miss Mic City Sons from his previous band, Heatmiser.

Uno de los mejores álbumes de los '90s. El talento casi infinito de Elliot Smith se filtra a través de cada una de las canciones, las cuales son narradas a través de letras introspectivas y poéticas en uno de los mejores álbumes del artista. Un disco impresionante que todo fanático de la música o del género folk debería escuchar.

I will always have a soft spot for his Kill Rock Star years and this is my favorite album he released on that label. I love the intimate, lo-fi (the drums on Speed Trials) vibe of this one. It's so beautiful, probably sad too I guess but the best kind of sad

Cute

Elliott Smith had intangible qualities that make him stand out from other men with acoustic guitars. I dunno, there’s just something in those chords changes and double-tracked vocals that’s equal parts haunting and comforting. It’s lyrically vulnerable and musically delicate, usually, but that just makes the louder parts more impactful (see: Cupid’s Trick). I knew a few of the tracks on here but the more I listen to the rest, the more I like ‘em all. 4.5

between the bars

Best album

The culmination of all the lo-fi dreams Smith could conjure up, a collection of songs at turns heartbreaking and funny. The opening/closing line of “Say Yes” deserves a spot in the pantheon of great lyrics. Listen, too, to Smith’s Beatles freak admiration for background harmonies and DI bass — you can sense the songs straining for the lush details that only a major label budget would provide him. Fair deal, in my opinion, and one that got us even grander power pop after.

Beautiful music. Love his voice and the whole vibe and sadness behind the lyrics. Only wish I'd tuned into him earlier.

This is likely the album I have re-listened to the most in a day as part of this project. For whatever reason I had never dove into Elliot Smith’s work but I really enjoyed this and ran thru it 5 times today. His delivery is so nice and effortless, excellent songwriting here and simple awesomely crafted tunes here. Love it, 5 stars

My first introduction to Elliott Smith...such a classic. Probably still my go-to singer/songwriter acoustic sounding album. 5/5

Took me back to high school. I remember hearing a couple of Elliott Smith tracks on a sampler CD from Journey's with Duncan Sheik and a few others and his tracks blew my mind. Then I heard one of his songs in Good Will Hunting and he was on the Oscar's performing and it feel so cool to know who Elliott Smith was when no one else at home did. I bought this album and one day my dad drove my truck...that night he gave me a lecture about the kind of music I was listening to because ES said fuck or something. Good times 😂

Love this album. Takes me back to college and memories of beloved friends

day 9. this is beautiful and I think deserving of my first 5 star rating. one I will definitely come back to when I want to feel something <3 4.5/5 rounded up to 5 faves: Angeles, Say Yes, Pictures of Me

only in my top 5 albums of all time

Smith’s delicate, wounded vocals match his musical ingenuity so well. Total vibe of a record. Angeles makes me feel unnameable things. One of the best songs ever written.

The Beatles influence is fairly apparent but unlike other artist he manages to make it sound original, unique and personal. Really great album.

Pretty damn near perfect. I like the double (more?) tracking and left/right separation. It’s like someone whispering directly in your ears. And this is what you want to hear.

Still as good as the first time I listened to it. Say Yes is so good and so clever.

This album is just excellent. The poetry of the lyrics paired with the stripped down guitar gives the album intimacy, like you're in the room with Smith as he's singing about the sad things in life. I really love this one.

One of my favourites. We're on a good little run here.

a classic. Haven’t listened to this in a few years, god knows why..

"Either/Or" is the third studio album by American singer/songwriter Elliott Smith and was his last solo album with indie label Kill Rock Stars before transitioning to a major label. His musical style is categorized as indie folk, indie rock, lo-fi and Americana and this album, in particular, was described as "a bridge between the lo-fi darkness of his first two albums and the studio sheen of his next two and final major label albums." That pretty much nails it when he goes acoustic and then also shows his strength as a pop song writer. The album title was derived from Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and his book which contrasts the aesthetical/subjective and the ethical/objective being. Interesting and on point for a lot of these songs "Either/Or" was Smith's best selling album and producer Gus Van Sant also used four songs from these recordings in his movie "Good Will Hunting." The first song and single "Speed Trials" has Smith whispering with an acoustic guitar. Pounding soft drums. Nice vocal harmonization. Is it about the inability to confront oneself about happiness and completeness or drug use? Probably both. Smith flexing his pop-writing muscles on "The Ballad of Big Nothing." Beatles-esque with the backing vocals. "Do what you want to whenever you want to." I can't help thinking it's about drugs again. An interesting almost acoustic riff of Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand" opens "Between the Bars." Another good song. The need to control someone. Hints of alcoholism and love. And for the third song in a row, Smith has me thinking of another band and this time it's The Monkees in "Pictures of Me." A nice pop song with harmonies and he's actually singing instead of whispering. Realizing when you see people doing something wrong, you can do it too. The album has a lot of references to Portland, OR where Smith had relocated. His previous band Heatmeiser and him had lived in LA and he writes and sings about that in "Angeles." Not such the love letter send off as there are forces (LA, drugs) that make you do things. Impressive finger picking by Elliott on his guitar. The most dramatic song on the album is "Cupid's Trick." Sort of evil sounding. Acoustic and electric guitar. The final song "Say Yes" has both lead and rhythm acoustic guitars. Dealing with the day after sleeping with someone. If you can conjure up The Beatles, Neil Young and The Monkees, you are either doing something very right in my eardrums or I might be taking the same drugs that you once were. Regardless, this is a fantastic album balancing Smith's talent of as a pop-song writer and him as lo-fi acoustic hipster. His best album for sure. His next album "XO" is great as well.

midwest emos grandad

One of the greatest to ever do it and one of his best. Every song is a 10/10. RIP Elliott.

Singer/songwriter. Ballads. indie.

Listened Before? Yes (Between the Bars, Angeles) I’ve known his popular songs for years, but never sat down with a full album. A lot of excellent tracks here, but Cupids Trick is a standout this listen. Added to Library? Yes (12/12)

Had only previously heard a few songs from it, but he’s one of my favorites.

I ❤️ this album sm

This is a gem of a record. Quiet and subtle, it begs to be listened to with full attention.

A perfect record from the nineties. And one that aged extremely well, thanks to Smith's stellar songwriting, not to mention barebones production choices that were both unobtrusive and graceful, especially for the times. By the way, if you enjoyed this album, you must also listen to Elliott Smith's eponymous LP, it's basically a sibling to this one. And *XO* and *Figure 8* also had their moments too, that's true. But none can beat *Either/Or* when the time comes to play the perfect soundtrack for urban melancholy. Didn't I use the word *perfect* before for this review? What, only twice? Rest in peace, Elliott. Music history would have been a tiny bit more interesting than it is if you had stuck around just a little longer. Thank you for all those gems you still managed to leave us in such a short time, though. A lot of folks still cherish them, you know... Number of albums left to review: 650 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 176 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 84 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 96

'Between the Bars' changed my life.

I’ve already listened and I’m in love 😻

Superb album which I often overlook when playing XO on repeat. So bitter-sweet and tortured I can't even grasp what it was like inside the mind of Elliot Smith

devastating and also cute it’s amazing

man this guy is really sad work of art obviously. nick drake begets elliott smith begets bright eyes begets phoebe and all the masterful singer/songwriters we have today

Excellent record. Elliott Smith left far too soon.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS EVER LOVE IT SO MUCH

Stunning

This album stands out from an array of rock albums with some folk flare and breathy intimate vocals. Loved it.

amazing lyrically poetic songs

The best ES album. XO can suck my dick

One of the greatest folk albums of all time in my opinion. Elliott Smith is hauntingly beautiful here.

Favorite album atm

I'm such an absolute sucker for slow sad stuff with acoustic guitar. It's not even funny. Sufjan Stevens vibes, but hints of angry angsty teen. I needed this today and I'm keeping it. Rose Parade is so simple and lovely and easy to bob my head to, love the three high notes that keep coming back. And I don't know how to describe it but Cupids Trick has the exact hollow frustrated sadness that I find most comforting when I'm in a bad mood, similar to Family Happiness by The Mountain Goats, but with more interesting chords.

There was an earlier Elliott Smith record on this list that I said wasn't what I expected of Elliott Smith. This is more what I expected, and I like it much more than I thought. It's filled with great songs, with such a raw feel to them. No matter how sparse his instrumentation, Smith manages to make them sound full. I'll be listening to this a lot.

"Either/Or" is the representation of mystical and melancholic music, it perfectly reflects the feeling of dissociation and isolation. This album is just emotionally and aesthetically pleasing. I think Elliott Smith is best known for his voice which is both very smooth and sounds like a soft cry, it's absolutely one-of-a-kind. Listening to it is simply a pleasure. And it's not only his voice that I so alluring and makes you want to listen to his music. It's a bunch of quality products put together in those songs: the music, lyrics, and the whole mood associated with this album are just phenomenal. I am unapologetically a big fan of this piece of art. favourite tracks: "Between the Bars" and "Cupid's Track"; least favourite track: there isn't any.

A college friend of mine used to work in a pizza shop in downtown Portland back in the early 1990s. He told me that Elliott often came in with just barely enough change for a slice — and that some times he didn't even have enough. About five years after this, Elliott is in a white suit playing Miss Misery at the Oscars. And, maybe five years after that he's dead. The news struck us hard given all the obvious and incidental connections that come with some shared community. And yet, despite living in Olympia, WA in the 90s I missed the initial release of Roman Candle and the self-titled record but Either/Or was anticipated and it stuck. This record is my most listened to Smith album. If you're paying attention and know any of Smith's biography it's a painful record to listen to at times, but even if you don't know those details it's a beautiful, flawed statement with enduring resonance. Many songs will bring me to tears and yet some of them I've sung to those I love.

All of my previous experience from Elliott smith had been from the album figure 8 a great album but not one I revisited all too much because of how long the album is for what it is. Either or seems to be be better being much shorter and immediately opening with speed trials a rather raw acoustic banger absolutely amazing! Alameda is a true show of excellent songwriting also the ghostly ooh’s are cool. Ballad of big nothing has an amazing guitar sound and an amazing hook on the chorus! Between the bars is short and tender, it’s nice but how is this his number one song on spotify? ( oh just saw it was on some soundtrack makes sense). I like how of pictures of me feels like it’s constantly moving up a few semitones every few seconds creates a great tense feeling so good my favourite so far! No name number 5 is a great song unfortunately I haven’t herd no name 1-4 so I can’t really compare but still solid. Rose parade is one of my favourites on a guitar level it’s really good this album is really hard to review because I just want to take it in. Throwing Punch and Judy as a sorta dark metaphor was a very great idea but the song isn’t one of my favourites, still amazing though. Angeles has brilliant guitar picking really bloody hard to review though just know I like it. Cupids trick has the most energy of any of the tracks really outstanding track! The penultimate track 2:45 am (similarly to between the bars) is so tender what a brilliant song. The closer say yes is great I think I’ve herd it before it’s really good. It’s a true 5/5!

Yes, it's a very good album, very exciting

Awesome.

Love it, thinking 4.5 then Say Yes!

I’ve already listened to this album prior and loved it. He’s got a fantastic writing style with an ethereal voice that’s hard to pull yourself away from.

This is pretty much a perfect album from a perfect songwriter. So few records make me a feel a very a specific thing and this is one of them. It's been a while since I listened to it, I only wish today's Portland weather matched the mood this record invokes as it's a very Portland record.

Solid, just really sad

Big part of the soundtrack to my college years. I couldn't listen to this at night because it would be too intense. Instead, I opted to listen in the day to take the edge off. I don't always want to wade in melancholy, but when I do, Elliott Smith really hits the spot.

den 2. beste smithen

Seen the Either/Or album cover before and heard good things but never listened. After giving it a listen and finding it really great, I thought why didn't I listen to it earlier. Didn't know what type of music I was gonna get but was pleasently surprised. Listened to it twice and can't find a bad track on here. Definitely an artist I want to explore more of.

I am really hooked by this sound in the first few songs. Interesting vocal textures. Rose Parade is another great tune. Say Yes is a great tune! What an excellent album!

wonderful

Legendary album. Love it.

Top 10 nineties record for me dawg.

One of my favourite albums of all time - and always a pleasure to hear it especially on a chilled Sunday or sunny morning 🔆

Beautifully subtle, subtlety brilliant. Incredible indie guitar album with the perfect amount of edge. Can hear how this has influenced so many to go after him eg Andy Shauf, Matt Costa and Tiny Little Houses. Can even hear a bit of Paper Mache era Gizz in the first couple of tracks. Strong start but even stronger finish in Rose Parade and Angeles. No Name No. 5 is a perfectly composed track. He also sounds exactly like another more contemporary artist (especially in Angeles) that I can't put my finger on if my life depended on it. Hopefully it will come to me one day in a future relisten. Also 50 points for punching a dart on the album cover.

Lots of love for this album, listened while walking to work in the rain. Pretty much the perfect way to hear its dreamy melancholy. Wonderful.

The music is really welcoming in a life kinda sucks empathetic way. I really enjoyed being introduced to him. I have already listened to the album multiple times to listen more in depth to the lyrics and appreciate the whole sound he created.

I mean this is the blueprint of the singer songwriter that would become more prevalent in the decades that followed. It’s also a great love letter to the indie and folk musicians from before it. Absolutely excellent album from an artist taken far too soon.

04/05/2022 I've kind of avoided Elliott Smith for a while just for how many internet opinons there are on his life, music, and passing. Glad I finally did take the time to listen - it's clearly very sad, but there's an overwhelming beauty to the lyrics and Smith's voice. I also appreciate that this isn't an album that was made for exclusively gloomy days.

A number of times in this project I have listened to beautiful music I have a strong connection to, only to find that the artist was full of terrible pain. Here we are again. I loved this one.

At first I was not sure that the soft gentle voice of the artist would be able to win me over, but it did.

Every time it ends, I just start it over again. And the more I listen the more I like. Breathy vocals and vulnerable lyrics, lovely indie-folk instrumentation. Heart-achingly beautiful. A new favorite.

I really love this album. Elliott Smith’s ethereal delivery is so soothing. Kind of ironic for that to come from such a tortured artist. A wonderful soundtrack to help ease the daily stress of life with enough wistfulness to not be boring. Favorite Songs: Ballad of Big Nothing, No Name No. 5, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Say Yes

Beautiful and haunting

Congratulations, now I feel just as shitty as you. You're an asshole.

Immer noch eins meiner liebsten Indie-Folk Alben. Vielleicht auch weil es eins meiner ersten, aber die Kombination der wunderschönen zurückhalteneren Songs und den eingängigen fast schon spaßigen Hymnen macht das ganze immer noch zu so einem guten Listen für mich 9/10

gehört zu den alben, die ich nur selten anhöre, weil sie mich echt mitnehmen (auf die traurige art). tatsächlich ein extrem gutes album, meiner meinung nach aber nicht das beste von elliott smith. "between the bars" und "say yes" verbinden malerische lyrics mit den schönsten melodien. ist glaube ich auch eines der wenigen arten, bei der die beste art, es zu erleben, mit kopfhörern ist. man merkt auf jeden fall hier den beatles einfluss, aber er macht da eben so viel mehr daraus. bestimmte zeitgenössische künstler/innen würden ohne elliott smith wiederum gar nicht existieren - das macht ja irgendwo musik aus.

Das ist richtig schön und traurig. Die Simplizität entfaltet hier eine ihre komplette Wirkung und macht aus so wenig so viel. Sowohl die Stimme als auch die Melodien sind einfach so emotiv und carrien das alles so sehr, auch wenn ich normal nicht so der Fan von singer Songwriter Kram bin. Aber hier kommt einfach ne stringente und schlagkräftige Melancholie und Menschlichkeit bei rum und das macht dieses Album sehr hörbar obwohl ich echt nicht gut traurige Musik hören kann. Rose Parade, Between the Bars und Angeles sind absolute Highlights. Auch hier ähnlich wie bei Joni Mitchell, eventuell keine komplette 5 aber 4 fühlt sich zu wenig an.

Zwar das einzige Album von ihm was ich richtig gut finde, aber kann echt nichts Schlechtes drüber sagen. Wäre ich heute nicht so busy würd ich gern mehr drüber schreiben. Ist aber ein super schönes, emotionales, durchgehend catchy, sau gut geschriebenes Album. Die lyrics sind zwar recht simpel aber funktionieren sehr gut. So gut wie perfektes Album

great

Absolutely loved this. Just beautiful writing and music. RIP.

Klassiker. Har inte lyssnat ännu.

Uhh, yeah, this one’s 4 the indie boys

Wonderful! One of The best albums ever.

Liked it

trop bien (✿◕‿◕)

Music to my ears.

Truly beautiful

Great songs - perfect. Probably the most consist album of Elliott Smith and the one I usually go for.

Drugs are bad, but they get a pass for resulting in an album as depressively great as this.

Like this close sound

This is a great album. Maybe the best for a melancholy mood.

I don't know how I avoided this album when it was fresh. But it has been holding up like a champ these last 25 years.

Beautiful. Sad but beautiful.

Excellent singer songwriter

Have loved this album for a long time. Not my absolute favourite of his (the self titled for me) but still gorgeous.

A masterpiece. I feel every word in my bones every time I hear this album, and it's been a special one to me for a few years now.

Saaaaaad but I love. Three of my favorite songs of all time so I’m gonna have to go five stars.

An old favourite. Masterpiece.

this shit fucking BANGS very hot and sexy

I had some notes written about a couple of songs on Elliott Smith’s “Either Or” years ago when we first listened. But revisiting it now to finish the review, alongside “Figure 8,” I re-read the review by pretentious-ass. His experience with Smith was not mine, but his reflection is so perfect and moving. So my review is to say go read his review.

I really like his album

Beautiful. I listened to it twice. I will be returning to Elliott Smith quite a bit

Classic Softboy music. I really think Elliot smith is so talented. Between the bars, A song dealing with addiction... or love maybe? I don't know really. I think it's the idea of wanting to help someone you love. But in doing that, you feel like you need to keep them from people who might damage them? atleast if they're always with you, you know they can't hurt you or themselves? A well meaning song I think, but really shows how quickly that relationship can spiral into a controlling mess. I really love that song. The more I sit with this album the more I like it. It's going to be in normal rotation from now on I think. It's really great.

Dreamy, haunting.

The blueprint

Bel album On sent que le mec a bossé seul dessus et c’est à écoute allongé dans son lit avec un casque en regardant le plafond

I'm always amazed how Elliot Smith's music can pull me in to his depressive trance, and yet I still love listening to it. Great musicianship and emotional depth here, and catchy enough to pull you in if you are only listening on the fringes.

8/10

Ahh... Mr. Smith. I listened through the whole album in the slow evening as I drink my hot tea and banana cake. It's a good album to zone out to. My favorites from this album are Ballad of Big Nothing, Pictures of Me and Say Yes. He just encapsulates a sad, sad loser very well, and I feel like one atm so this album is great company. The lyrics to Say Yes spoke to me the most. I understand why this album is a classic by him. I give this a 7/10.

Speed Trials - 4/5 Alameda - 4/5 Ballad of Big Nothing - 4.5/5 Between the Bars - 4/5 Pictures of Me - 4/5 No Name No. 5 - 4/5 Rose Parade - 4/5 Punch and Judy - 3.5/5 Angeles - 4.5/5 Cupid's Trick - 4/5 2:45 AM - 4/5 Say Yes - 4/5 A surprisingly intimate listen from an artist that I had never heard from. It's a fairly gentle and melancholic sound that he manages to pull off, but there really isn't something here that makes me want to really like it. It's a good album, but most of the songs sort of feel a bit of the same at times. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Ballad of Big Nothing, Angeles

I should have loved this but I just found it to be a bit too monotonous for my taste. I love Bjork in small doses but find an entire album difficult and I know I’m probably wrong.

I missed the boat with Elliot Smith while he was around, and singer songwriter guitar driven moody white guy indie rock is not exactly what i'm going for these days, but he's clearly different. Really liked the album, i'll listen to the rest of his discography now.

Like it

Finally, депрессивные мужики подъехали. На самом деле при всей моей любви к подобной музыке отношения с эллиоттом как-то не складываются. Я понимаю, что это классно, но вот в душу к сожалению не западает. Но это всё ещё отличная музыка, и рад, что он есть в этом топе

приятно слушать, когда-то давно не зашло совсем, а спустя время плавно полюбил. так что оценка моя тут субъективная(и не только тут) - 4

I was more familiar with his later albums like "XO" and "Figure 8," so this was my first time listening. Smith was a master of melody, song arrangement, and quietly desperate lyricism. That said, this album felt more demo-like to me, without fully fleshed out arrangements. All of the ingredients were here but I think he hit his peak on his next album. "XO." I think we're overdue for a biopic about Smith's life and still unresolved death. He was a fascinating and compelling artist.

Wow. Did not expect this to be as excruciatingly beautiful as it is. Artists who expose the deepest feelings are telling us secrets about themselves at great risk. Maybe the urge to get shit off your chest is the same urge that makes you say f it all. The same sensitivity that makes your art touch people is the same sensitivity that exposes something you didn’t mean to, or allows you to get hurt without knowing the pain isn’t permanent. Really amazing work. Be nice to someone today.

limed it

Straight up good

mid

Good album. Really liked Between The Bars, Cupid's Trick and Say Yes.

Lo primero en lo que pensé mientras escuchaba las canciones era en Mac DeMarco. Tiene una esencia tan similar, y me gusta que el ritmo tranquilo queda muy bueno y muy "comodo auditivamente". En general, no soy el mayor oyente de canciones de un estilo suave, pero este album me sorprendió, me gustó mucho todo, tampoco fue la maravilla mas grande, siento que tiene un puntaje sobresaliente en comparacion de algunos albumes anteriores punteados. El album lo dejaria de fondo para actividades tranquilas probablemente, algo casual donde quiera concentrarme en lo que hago.

Very chill - I liked it.

I found Figure 8 (the other Elliott Smith album on the list) surprisingly generic – I think this rawer, more stripped-back sound works much better. It's fitting that a song here is called 2:45AM, as this does sound like something you should be listening to on your own in the early hours.

Surprisingly really good

Oh to be 19 and mildly depressed…. Still a great album, and I was already wearing my black jeans and flannel shirt when I got this. So not a huge amount has changed really.

Really liked this one, mournful and beautiful

Beautiful and raw. 2:45 is the only thing keeping it from a 5 for me. So close

Elliot Smith is the favorite artist of both of my favorite artists - Phoebe Bridgers and beabadoobee. I can totally see his influence in their music and not only them, the music industry in general. What a soft and cool album.

Bom demais. Nos acalma. A musica Rose Parede é a minha favorita.

90s hopefulness crossed with cadences of ELO and the haunting vocals of the 00s and beyond. Alex G and the sad, sultry sausages of today's indie scene can thank albums like this. Elliott Smith ran so the rest could walk. Sometimes all it takes is a guitar, ironically cheery accompaniment, a troubled voice and some fantastic production to make an orchestra. 8/10

Elliott Smith is one of my favourites, but this is not my favourite album. Between the bars, Angeles, Balllad of Big Nothing are my favourite tracks

It was good. My favorite song was definitely Between the Bars, but all of them were good. It gave me a Radiohead feel, but also a very folksy feel. Overall, I would give it a 4/5!

it’ll be a sad summer….

Love me some Elliot Smith. Really quiet and personal. A real "time and place" album, but if you're in that place at that time, there's not much better.

An intimate album that reminds me of the sad times in life.

Oj, dobrze wiem, że ludziom się to nie będzie podobać. A ja lubię takie smętne ballady, które ocierają się o emo. Nawet ten nosowy głos mi nie przeszkadza. Mocne 8/10

so lovely highlights: speed trials, alameda, between the bars, pictures of me 4.25/5

Favorite songs: Speed Trials, Alameda, Between the Bars, Pictures of Me, Rose Parade, Angeles, Cupid’s Trick, Say Yes

La inspiración musical de Phoebe Bridgers

I think this album might make me want to kill myself. But i'm on the second track right now and so far, it's been good! i just realised i'd been listening to the album on shuffle. FUCK. okay wait this so actually so good.

Elliot Smith's voice is like little else, huh? It's so delicate, so forlorn and so packed with meaning. Overall, I would say that maybe this isn't quite of the consistent quality as Figure 8, but it's still so supremely haunting (in part because of the post hoc knowledge of Smith's tragic end). I real treat to listen to on a rainy Monday morning.

Good songs. Sad. In many ways.

A beautiful album wrapped up in a sad story.

They did it again! This has to be an inside joke at this point. I first heard this with Doug "Junebug" St. Clair III when we first tried pussywillow MDMA in the back of his mom (at the time) 's 2001 Jeep Che*okee. I was on the foosball varsity alma mater sophomore junior dunior i slept with a drugged girl, it was a dare, i was drunk please don't look into unsolved 2003 sexual assault cases in Vermont. Good album 4 GENRE: Appeals to pseudo-intellectual college dropouts and unfortunately also me

If I had to choose an Elliott Smith album to put on the list I personally would have selected X/O or his self titled as I think that Either/Or is just a notch below them, though it is still a great record. It has all the trademarks of his style that I find so endearing, with his double tracks harmonies, intimate lyrics, and beautiful guitar melodies. Smith was always a captivating listen when he was on top form, and tracks like Between the Bars and Angeles are perfect examples of that. The album's sadly brought down a little by weak tracks like Punch And Judy and Speed Trials that I honestly find a little sleep inducing, but to be fair pretty much all of Smith's albums have at least a couple of weak songs on them. For me, I find Either/Or to be a bit of an uneven halfway point between his raw, stripped back earlier sound and the more extravagant and ambitious compositions of his later work. It's not my favourite iteration of his sound by any means but it's still an undeniably enjoyable demonstration of Smith's prodigious songwriting talent. The guy was just on another level at times. I'll give this a 4.5/5, rounded down just to maintain the sanctity of the blessed 5 stars. Favourite tracks: Angeles, Between the Bars, Ballad of Big Nothing, Cupid's Trick, Say Yes

Yesterday Ryan Adams, today Elliott Smith—to me, their styles are quite similar, and I’m already second-guessing my review from yesterday. I find Elliott Smith’s voice a little less compelling, but *Either Or* does at least have one really good song: “Cupid’s Trick.” All in all, it’s on par with *Heartbreaker*.

My favourite Elliott Smith album, straddles delicate and expansive, so close to being perfect but a few songs don't grab me

Dreamy bedroom pop for sad bois and girls. I've only seen Good Will Hunting once so I don't have huge nostalgia for those tracks, but as a whole this is a beautiful record from a deeply and tragically broken person. RIP Elliott Smith. His spidery-thin vocal style no doubt went on to inspire other indie rock acts of the time (Death Cab comes to mind).

I've listened to this album before. It honestly takes several listens to really get into it. I hated it the first time I listened, disliked it the second time, liked it the third time, and understood it the fourth time. What an enjoyable album. Haunting and beautiful. Best Song: Between the Bars Rating: 8/10 Score: 4/10

I really liked this and will listen to more of his material

emo ass looking gay dude anyway i can feel the beatles influence, especially in Pictures of Me, so idk how to feel about that, however, i do enjoy this for some reason, but not more than someone like Nick Drake if u know what i mean.

Voel me weer helemaal 17 als ik dit luister ach. Irriteerde me een beetje aan de veeeel te brighte snare, is makkelijk om minder bright te maken, dus dat is jammer. Ja erg deprimerend, maar I love Elliott smith

zo mooi !! ik ken elliott smith/dit album van good will hunting de film toen ik die zag op m'n .. 13e of zo? prachtig !!

😢🤘 me listening to Elliot smith

I really liked his music!

#349/1001. I remember some of the cool friends in the know to talk about Elliott Smith in praising terms, but I don't think I've listened to him, perhaps a song or two there in the background or something. Just a few albums before there was Beck with Sea Change, and comparisons to it or Mutations are inevitable, also mentioning Nick Drake just has to be done. Perhaps also the Eels... But hey, they are all personal favorites so you are in a good company! Although you up and went ruined your life. But nearly got out of the bad and instead of going for a swim like Buckley stabbed yourself to the chest (or got stabbed?). Oh well. Wanted to hear more, but the earlier albums didn't quite catch this level. Editing for the 8 to appear, this is half way, so 4.

SUPER INDIEEE M ENCANTO vibes de djoooo muy lindo 4 estrellas

Review - not listened to this in a while, and it's a better album than I remember. First 4-5 tracks in particular are great. And Say Yes is a wonderful closing track. Could be sickly sweet in a lesser performers hands but he makes it work Score - 7.5/10 Need to listen? YES

This is really cute! Didn't grab me straight away, and yet ended up compelled to listen 3 or 4 times, it's a grower. Ballad of Big Nothing, "you can do what you want to, whenever you want to" - very much my vibe atm!

It feels like it might be another melancholy indie rock album but it keeps finding interesting enough progressions and things to do that elevate it. However, it just doesn’t personally resonate with me in a way that I’ll find myself going back to it too much

Was I depressed because I listened to Elliott Smith or did I listen to Elliott Smith because I was depressed?

amazing guitar work and good melodies and lyrics but album lacks memorability and album have no mindblowing parts and his whispery voice annoyed me, to me all songs almost sound the same

A name I know by almost reverential reputation and little more than a scant few details. I didn’t listen to the lyrics too deeply on this at this stage, but there’s more than enough musically to draw me back. A worthwhile discovery.

Didn’t quite hit like Figure 8 did. Still a stellar album.

Listening to Elliot Smith had been on my list for a while. Alameda was gorgeous—the first sign of something special—from the layered vocals to the intimate guitar-playing. The songwriting itself is restrained, not a single line is wasted from Smith. Overall, one of the most enjoyable singer-songwriter albums I’ve listened to, a genre I usually turn away from.

Speed trials and Alameda are pretty good. Ballad of Big Nothing was such an amazing song. I got a little bored in the middle. Rose Parade is my favorite song on the album, it is amazingly beautiful. I am captivated by it. The build in tempo and sound throughout the later stage of the album is brilliant. Cupids Trick is rocking in the all the right ways. The ending of the album is just as beautiful as the first part. Say yes hits hard. The middle was my only issue with this album.

Have not listened to this in 20 years. Forgot how great an album it is.

This is not an easy listen. There’s a fragility throughout. In his stretched wracked voice, in the lyrical honesty. But there’s sweetness too, this is 60’s pop at heart but with the sunshine drained and doubt poured in. Get past all that though and it’s intimate and absorbing.

ok i admit it... its really good and awesome

7/10… folk-rock / singer-songwriter / *1997

Fantastic Album by Smith he is the GOAT

'You little child, what makes you think you're tough / When all the people you think you're above / They all know what's the matter.'; 'Nobody broke your heart / You broke your own / 'Cause you can't finish what you start.' There're many records out there directed at a 'you,' but Smith's Either Or is an obsessively you-oriented album, painfully, angrily, singularly for a you he's no fan of but can't let go of, so much so that as a consumer you start questioning your intentions & your positions in the world. I'm not sure if Elliott is a genius or not, but he's certainly written songs - subtle, beautiful songs - that take a hold & a piece of you. In short, I believe him. In many ways the Nick Drake of the 90s, he's yet angrier & more musical than ND.

On my first listen, this album is otherwise pretty average but is propped up by the strength of a few songs (No Name No. 5, Cupid’s Trick, Say Yes). I’d give it a 3 if I wasn’t inspired to listen to more from the artist. He’s ground out a four.

didn't think i'd like this as much as I did, but the moody eerie guitar is a sweet spot of mine...

Either is one of those albums that could listen to at a certain time and think its boring and mediocre but it grew on me and has some great tracks acoustic and melodic a 3 would do it injustice so its a 4 out of 5 for me !

Enjoyed this album, have heard of but never listened to Elliott Smith

eu conhecia elliott smith, mas definitivamente nunca havia escutado nada dele de forma completa (e estranhamente também não reconheci nenhuma das músicas) - gostei bastante do álbum, acho que ele é um álbum triste exatamente da forma que eu precisava escutar. 4/5

amazing album. I really liked it, i didn’t know the artist before but i’m glad i got to know it

First 2 or so tracks I thought were great and then it started to lose me a bit. I'll give it another shot soon but I already feel like it's pretty good.

Amazing first half. Gets sluggish on second half.

Really sad.

Приятный акустический инди-поп. Немного напомнило Ника Дрейка, но если бы он был поп-певцом в 90х. Гранжевые мотивы в сочетании с печальной фолк-атмосферой, это очень неплохо

Liked big ballad and between the bars

Elliot Smith was an artist that flew under my radar in the 90s. Kinda surprising really since his music is the type of thing I would've definitely been into in those days. Anyway, I appreciate the opportunity to hear it now. He was clearly a talented but tortured artist like many of the other casualties of the era - Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Shannon Hoon, Jeff Buckley, Andrew Wood, Bradley Nowell, Michael Hutchence, etc. 4/5

Introspective, maybe in line with folk music

jak na razie bardzo fajny naprawde troszke czuje takiego alexa g momentami

A good album

This guy gives me Nick Drake vibes. The music is intimate and a little melancholic. It is not what you'd call a happy album vibe, but on a grey day it was perfect

I vaguely knew Smith's work, mostly the albums XO and Figure 8. This is very similar - great lyrics and interesting songs, although I do sometimes wish his vocals were stronger. Can't find anything to recommend this over his other work. Unlike Neil Young etc, I think one Elliot Smith album is probably enough, so this'll do. 4*

Buen album, lastima que es medio cortito pero me sorprendio es como un mood de lluvia medio triste o caminar 3AM

I hadn’t heard of this artist but was pleasantly surprised. This was a nice listen.

This album is brief and beautiful. The skill and talent to craft a complete artistic statement across years, recording locations, and life's ebbs and flows is the gift of the artist. They teach us that it's possible for a dream to survive.

I did not enjoy this nearly as much as Figure 8. I listened to it twice to see if anything stood out for me on the second listen, but the same few songs caught my attention. It is still a good listen, but not quite at the level as that. The standout track was Pictures of me (and the desperation in his voice) and then Rose Parade. 3.5 stars upgraded to a 4

When I was much younger and I was invited to someone’s house, my first point of interest was always the record collection. You can really get to know someone through their tastes. A little too often they would have several questionable albums on display. Nearly every time they would have at least one Elliott Smith CD therefore making me dismiss him out of hand. I am once again forced to admit that I was wrong. Elliott Smith was genius and every time I hear something “new” I’m reminded that I have been a total snob for no reason. Fuck The Black Album.

medio depre pero buenardo

Very good if not great. A bit more depressing and somber than I typically care for.

I have a few of Elliott Smith’s albums, and I really love just about everything I hear from him. Wasn’t familiar with this one and glad to get a chance to hear it for the first time. A 4 now on first listen, but could grow to a 4.5 or 5 over time.

Simple beat, pleasant story telling

Faves: Between the Bars 2:45am is the scale one ✅ This guy is haunting, I feel like he’s probably inspired a lot of my favorite artists.

The OG indie sad boy. I used to love his stuff back in High School, but find it harder to relate now that I'm in my 30s. That said, still lots of great tracks on this and I kinda love how tinny his vocals sound. It's got a charm to it

At first I thought I would say this is the kind of album that you have to be in just the right mood to listen to. Too sad, too ... sad But then I realized it put me in the right mood. A lot of beautiful, well crafted songs, stripped bare. I wouldn't say it is incredible music, but it evokes strong feelings. Really enjoyed the focused listen. Plus one star for the association with Good Will Hunting, which resonates with me as I am also wicked smaat and I must assume that Minnie Driver desperately wants to jump my bones.

just realised id been listening to the album on shuffle... but its fine bc i'll absolutely return to this album at some point good old indie loved it just a rly nice listen

what a nice solid indie album. I've been having a lot of anxiety lately so this was really soothing to listen to. I'll probably be putting it on again

A really solid album. What struck me most was how ahead of its time it felt. Must've been very influential.

I didn’t want to like this at first, but after a few repeats, it’s quite peaceful and enjoyable. Likes: Ballad of Big Nothing, Between The Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, Say Yes

As a confirmed fan of sad boys mumbling over acoustic guitars, of course I think this is a really strong lo-fi/indie/folk album. Some tracks (‘Alameda’, ‘Ballad of Big Nothing’, ‘Between the Bars’, ‘Angeles’, ‘Say Yes’) are genuine greats, and most of the rest are pretty good too. Elliott Smith’s strengths were his lyrics and melodies, with the latter providing some counterweight to the former, turning what might have been an emotionally oppressive album into one that while still melancholy and bittersweet, isn’t overwhelmingly depressive. Not quite 5 stars for me, but certainly at the upper end of 4.

Similar to my last review for Smith, he's always felt like another person's favorite artist to me and I've never been able to locate my enthusiasm for him as anything particularly special. But he is totally locked in on Either/Or and almost every song on this is beautiful and impressive. A lot of this album has been repurposed for movies or television and when you listen, you totally get why. Imagine any closing moment on an episode of Scrubs, now put an Elliot Smith over it. Was Elliot named after Elliot Smith? We just don't know.

weird, this kinda strikes me as emo with a grunge base. The soft vocals work well with the instruments and the tone, all I can picture when listening is driving by a forest on a grey rainy day, and it works!

Enjoyed this more than I expected! Very Sloany

This was a pleasant surprise. Really good

1997. Philosophy of choosing between pleasure seeking and responsible ethical lifestyles. Title borrowed from the philosopher Kierkegaard. Elliott plays everything on this album. Elliott died of 2 (self-inflicted?) stab wounds.

This was a good one. I feel like if I listened a bunch of times it would move up to a “5” for me

I mean, I didn't expect to see a reference to Kirkegaard on the list. This feels pretty genuine and heartfelt. He's got a good voice and blends the instrumentals well for the style. Good album.

I like Elliott Smith's soft, understated style of singing. And his melodies are first-rate.

Ahh didn’t know he was on this list. I’m ready but also probably wise to be the right time and place for his melancholy! Don’t think I’ll be anywhere close to being the first or last person to use the word haunting to describe this and it’s really great. Touches something and feels very tender and vulnerable. Excited to listen a second time and I’m not even finished the first. Between the bars particularly stood out as beautiful and Rose Parade. I’m not sure it’s a 5 but it’s close. Listened to it 3 times on repeat and will now probably explore more of his catalogue. Thanks 1001 albums… (4.5)

Elliot Smith is one of them I feel I should love but I just like. His music has the tenderness and vulnerability of Nick Drake but is more… grungey? His voice doesn’t immediately click with me. There are songs of his I love but my favourites aren’t on this album. Was going to rate 3 stars but the final track made me push it up to 4. There’s potential I could revisit and love this.

A great listen. Soulful and human. Not a huge amount of range, and I would personally love some stronger choruses. This is pretty undeniable, though.

brillient

7/10 Decent. A little too mono-paced and single-sounding, but it has a rawness to it that aches with a pain

Such a great songwriter. Melodies/guitar riffs are very reminiscent of the Beatles, if they were in a depressive episode.

I like Elliott Smith, though probably not to the extent of his reputation.

це 4.5. з потенціалом на 5 після наступних прослуховувань. Рівень пісень високий, тепла меланхолійна музика з цікавим звуком. Іноді було відчуття що це демо-версії чи чернетки, особливо порівняно з гучними роковими номерами. Це точно залишається в бібліотеці

I thought this album was incredible. I do respect his instrumental ambitions on this record. The song writing track for track is very good. The song writing was definitely the highlight of the record, mixed with raw emotion and kind of Beatles inspired melodies.

I really enjoyed this one. Had heard “Pictures of Me” and “Ballad of Big Nothing” and liked them, but this album if filled with great little songs, filled with nostalgia and raw feelings. I think it’s his voice that makes this sound subdued when the songs actually rock.

7/10 Melody

Some might dislike his sound, but this is fact: This man has an unbelievable amount of talent in conveying emotion through music. Before I explain why I understand the cult status of this record, I will state my negative opinions first with dispatch. Although utilizing the limited production to make insanely detailed/dense songs is certainly impressive, the overall sound of the album really didn’t sit well with me at first; it’s probably just a preference thing, though. The musicality and atmosphere of this album, however, is truly what made me understand the classic status that it dons. The sheer warmth and consistency that this record offers candidly makes it feel like 30 minutes of gentle hugs. Anyways, great album, would recommend.

First two to three songs were okay, then from there the rest of the songs were masterpieces. Also, the sound sounds raw, straight from the studio, nothing polished.

Tremenda recomendación. Echo & the Bunnymen y Gus Van Sant se encuentran en un álbum que suena como el encierro productivo de un tipo depresivo. Mención especial para 'Pictures of Me' y 'Alameda'.

Would have ripped my adolescent heart out. Clearly a masterwork of mood and tone, it probably would hit best during a blowout emotional crisis. EDIT: Didn't grab me the first time through, but have gone back several times since, and it grows on me every time.

I only know of the tragedy and not any of the music so I thought I was going to be heading into some sort of pretentious lo-fi indie rock garbage but what a nice surprise this was! This guy can actually write some really good, interesting songs. Definitely need to check out the rest of his discography and to learn more of where he came from.

Was surprised how much I enjoyed, soft and acoustic heavy

Emo sad :( Mjög kósý vinnutónlist sem á vel við snjóinn. Þetta er svona lalala gæti ekki raulað eitt einasta lag en þetta er bara mjög sölid plöt.

50 + albums in and this is what I was hoping for. An album by someone I’d never heard of that’s really good. Will listen again

I loved his music

while this is a tremendous album, it’s hard for me to listen to because it’s so intimate and bare. you are listening to the deepest parts of Smith’s soul which is imo the embodiment of depression. RIP

Like many, I was first introduced to Elliott Smith through Good Will Hunting, and this album perfectly encapsulates what I found appealing about him.

I was somewhat surprised to see another Elliott Smith album on here, and I must say Either Or annoyed me much less than Figure 8. It has a much less depressing sound and thankfully is only a single album, as a double album of this music would become pretty boring very fast. I like its much simpler, fully acoustic sound, and some of the more "lo-fi" aspects it has. I also enjoyed the vibe of "Say Yes" a lot. While it's nothing groundbreaking in my book, this one's much more solid to me. Favorite Song: "Say Yes"

- This is pretty effective sad lo-fi guitar singer-songwriter music. - His voice has a soft vulnerability that is intriguing. - There are really pretty melodies in here -- I like most of the songs on here quite a bit. - Also, this unfortunately reminds me of a problematic ex, but I still like it, so that's a pretty impressive, lol.

I love Elliott Smith and am deeply grateful I never discovered him when I was in high school because I feel like he would have made me even more insufferable. Even now, I hear a line like "When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind" and my fingers itch to scrawl it in the margins of my math notebook. [ELECTROCHEMISTRY] Oh man. He looks so devastatingly *cool* with that cigarette. (Seriously this album cover is like the height of 90s cool. The typewriter font, Heli-Jet hat, monochrome tattoo, cigarette, "fuck you" penned on the wall behind him...)

Not someone I want to listen to on the daily but I like him.

I often find myself enjoying lyrical songs more and this album was full of them. The melodies are simple but captivating. Would listen again.

Este álbum es bien bebo, al inicio no me esperaba que me encantara pero la verdad es que mientras más lo vas escuchando y adentrándote, más te va sorprendiendo, se siente bien kaguai 👅

Ok I'm loving this. I don't always enjoy Elliott Smith, but this album is special. It's earnest and vulnerable like the best of Smith's work, but it doesn't grow tiring or overdone. I really enjoyed this. 7/10

So talented and gone too soon 💔

So once again, here I am finally actually listening to some shit 30 years later. I just never had time for it when this came out or when it was a thing (not that Elliot Smith ever stopped being a thing, but like a thing-thing). I was always like "I ain't got time for sad soft boy suicide acoustic guitar shit right now." And I didn't, but now I do. Like I really do It's better than I thought it would be. It's not like depreeeeeessssing. The whole aura around Elliot Smith is colored by his suicide, but he's more than that, which is the real tragedy, that it isn't simply sad or depressing music, it's much more vibrant and interesting than that. The music feels like a cool creative person you know and like a lot, someone who you enjoy when they come around and think what they say is neat and want to know what they're working on, and you want what's best for them even if you don't know them very well. Really good.

Bien ce petit Elliott

Really good. I have to be in the mood for it though.

gut aber für mich zu monoton und traurig

Another sweet album, albeit slightly whiny/nasally. Stripped back with sentiment. Quite enjoyed. Angeles the favourite, but probably because I knew it before. Say Yes also enjoyable.

I'm of the age to have discovered Elliot Smith due to Good Will Hunting- I immediately purchased the soundtrack and gifted Either/Or to my best friend for his birthday. Cut to maybe 5 years later when he played a show at my University. He couldn’t finish a single song, saying he couldn't feel his hands. It was sad. Some months later, he was dead. There's also always something special about 'transition' records, where an artist is trying new things, boosting production value, etc. In that vein, Either/Or is indispensable, despite the awful snare drum tone on the first two tracks. What were they thinking? I prefer XO as an album, but there's not a bad song on Either/Or. It’s special.

Incredible soft alt. Just quietly excellent. Favorite track was between the bars

Another great entry by Elliot Smith. I really like his style. His lyrics tackle some actual emotions, not just the typical singer/songwriter slop.

56/1089 White guy whose voice keeps cracking: I'm sad! I'm fucking sad! Me: This is dope. This is a good song.

A very good and consistent sound

Never heard of Elliott Smith, I guess i was not listening to radio at the time? Didn't care much on the first listen but let it repeat and felt the groove of it the second time. Really liked it

I really like this album. I think Elliott Smith has such a sad voice, that sounds weird, but it really fit the theme of the album and just made it so emotional and beautiful. Because it's such a sad album, I find it hard to listen to at all occasions, but when I'm in the mood for it's perfect and the best album for that situation.

Listening to Elliott for the first time was a bit of an epiphany for me, many years ago. This is a great record, but not his best for me. Between the Bars and Say Yes could be enough for the record to stand on its feet.

sad vibes never sounded so good

Cudowny album, słucham go od dwóch dni na zapętleniu. Jest to na pewno coś, co trafia w mój gust. Być może za jakiś czas wrócę tutaj i edytuje ocenę na 5.

Seeing Elliott live at NYU and then wearing out XO were formative experiences for me, thus I've always been more into the lush arrangements of the major label output, so diving into the album right before that was fun. Great songs!

I do love a good yearn, but wish the instrumental/production was a little more varied

I love Miss Misery but it’s not on the album. For that, 4 stars. If I had been doing this project a few years ago when I was almost exclusively listening to “sad” music, this album would’ve gone triple platinum in my corded headphones. Today, still excellent, but not going to achieve that elusive 5th star.

Good stuff.

Between the Bars my beloved <3

Beautiful guitar work and a soothing voice. Not my favorite ever, but definitely merits a place on this list.

godt singersongwriter

I like him, but I'm still figuring out how to love him. 3.5/5

I liked it. It felt kinda punk-y, though I don’t know that that’s how others would describe it. I’d say like a slightly more punk Oasis. It’s like music for when you’re a little down and want something on your level

A sad, sad man who made sad, beautiful music. What always amazed me most was he managed to stab himself TWICE in the heart with a steak knife. Once is enough, imagine the mental fortitude it would take do it twice. Aside from that, great album. ¨Between the Bars¨ could be one of the best songs ever written by Elliot Smith.

My friend once told me that my music taste could be best be described as "sad white boy music", so unsurprisingly I think this album is pretty good.

Great album. Songwriting is next level and the acoustic guitar is some of the best.

Mainly calm and quiet with very heavy lyrics. The first time I listened to Elliot Smith, I didn't like his voice, but after listening to him a couple more times, it has really grown on me and fits his music really well. This was my second or third time listening to this album.

Speed Trials is a good intro track to the album Alameda is good! Ballad of Big Nothing is okay Between the Bars is good! Pictures of Me is okay No Name No. 5 is good in its own way! Punch and Judy is good slow song Angeles is good! Nice a melodic, simple guitars It's pretty good

What a great album, starts off a bit slow but really gets into a groove, 2 great songs on this album surrounded by some very solid bits of song writing. The quintessential singer/songwriter record